Randomized clinical trial comparing endovenous laser ablation, radiofrequency ablation, foam sclerotherapy and surgical stripping for great saphenous varicose veins (Br J Surg 2011; 98: 1079-1087).

摘要

This well conducted randomized controlled trial by Rasmussen and colleagues is the first to compare endovenous laser ablation, radiofrequency ablation, ultrasound-guided foam sclerotherapy and surgery of the great saphenous system directly. It highlights the effectiveness of all treatment modalities in improving the impaired quality of life noted in patients with varicose veins.Foam sclerotherapy was found to be less effective in obliterating the great saphenous vein, but despite this the improvements in quality of life, clinical success and recurrence rates were comparable to those of the other treatments. In the short term foam sclerotherapy was substantially cheaper, despite the fact that the reimbursement for this procedure in Denmark appears to be equivalent to that of the more time-consuming endothermal treatment options. Given the similar benefit with regard to patient-reported outcomes, and the ease with which treatment can be repeated, foam sclerotherapy will be considered by many to remain the preferred treatment option.